Embossing-machine.



v' Patented Feb. 18,1902.

F.1H. BANcuFT. EMBOSSING MACHINE.

@Application 1e-d Aug. 2B, 1899.)

' 4Sheets-Sheet I.

l(No Model.)

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vF. H. BANCROFT.

EIBOSSING MACHINE.r

(Applimion am Apg. as, was.)

Patanted yFell. I8, |902.

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:10,693,362 Patented rgb., la; nmz.-

nu. AncnorT. EMBSSING MIACI'HNE.

(Application 11ed Ang. .28, 1899.) (No Model.) I 4 She's-jSheet 3.

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l Patented Feb. la; |902. F. H. ANcRoFT. EMBOSSING MACHINE.

(Application led Aug. .28, 1899,)

THE NoRms PETERS e0.. PHQTQLITHQ. yvAsmMmN. D. c.

UNrTED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. BANCROFT, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HENRY M. RICH, OF. GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

EMBOSSING-IVIACHINE.

SPECFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,362, dated February 18, 1902.

i Application filed August 28,1899. Serial No. 728,680. (No modelo To af/-ZZY whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. BANcRoFT, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Gardner, in the county of' W'orcester and (Jom-4 monwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefullmprovement in Embossing- ,I5 represents a central sectional view on line 2 2,

Fig. 1, showing a modification of the machine by the introduction into the head of a friction device for checking vthe momentum of the article to be embossed as it is fed to the 2o machine. Fig. 5 is a side View, on a larger scale, of the yielding clutching mechanism by which the feeding mechanism is connected with the driving power. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the same shown on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a rear view of a portion of the mechanism for lifting the work-out of engagement with the embossing-die.

. Similar letters refer to similar parts in the different figures. 3o My invention relates to an embossing-machine in which the article to be embossed is compressed against the face of a-die and between a stationary head and a reciprocating follower, which may be actuated by any of ythe known means employed in machines of this class, such as a hydraulic cylinder, toggle-joint, or screw. The machine illustrated inthe accompanying drawings has its reciprocating follower actuated by a pair of tog- 4o glo-joints; and my invention consists in the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and set forth in the annexed claims.

My invention is particularly designed for embossing-machines which require a heated.

die; and it has for some of its objects to provide means for limiting' the period of coni f tact of the embossed article with the heated die in order to prevent discolorization and also 5o to provide means for mechanically feeding the pieces to be embossed to the machine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, f A denotes the base of the machine, and B B vertical rods mounted upon opposite sides of the base A and supporting at their upper 55 ends a head C. The vertical rods B B serveas gu-ides for the follower D, which has a reciprocating motion by means of the togglejoint `levers D,`wh ich are actuated Ain the usual and well-known manner by means of 6o eccentric-straps D? andv eccentrics D3, carried upon a shaft D4,wh'ieh is rotated by means of a gear D? and pinion `D6 from the revolving shaft D7, carrying a fly-wheel D8, which also servesjas a beltpulley by which the power'is imparted tothe machine. Thejoints of the toggle-joint levers D are formed by providing semicircu'lar recesses to receive the spindles D9, which are placed loosely in the 'semicircular recesses and are held in place 7c, by the pressure upon the levers.V Each of the spindles D9 is capable of being rotated in its bearings in order to equally distribute lubricating material applied to its exposed surfaces, and to enable the spindles to be rotated I provide them with Spanner-'holes D10. The embossing-machine represented in the accompanying drawings is adapted for embossing the concave side of curved piecessuch, for example', as are used for the backs 8o of chairs-and the opposing surfaces of the head O and follower D are curved to correspond withv the curvature of the piece to be embossed. h The follower D is hollow and supports on its convex upper surface a die E, which is heated by means of a ame within the khollow follower, supplied by fuel through pipes F. In the machine shown gasolene or other fuel under pressure is supplied from a reservoir F', which is carried upon a shelf F2, 9o suspended by rods F3 from armsv F4, I projecting from one side of the follower Dso that thereservoiris given a rising-and-falling motion corresponding to the motion of the follower D. 95

Attached to the front side of the follower D is a shelf G, having, its upper surface G corresponding to the upper surface ofthe die E and forming a support upon which'the Work to be embossed is laid and from which itis xoo fed to its proper position between the die E and the head C by means of a reciprocating y feeder G2, sliding along ways Gs on the opposite edges of the shelf G. The reciprocating feeder G2 is provided with pushing-plates G4, attached to the feeder by bolts G5 and overlapping the surface G of the shelf G, so that their forward ends G6 will come in contact with the piece to be embossed supported on the shelf G. The made of wood and are detachable from the feeder, so that different lengths may be used in order to vary the position of the piece to be embossed when left by the forward stroke of the feeder. The feeder G2 is connected by links G7 with the ends of arms G8, carried upon a rocking shaft G9, which is journaled in bearings G19, attached to the follower D. The rocking shaft G9 is provided with an arm G11,carryingin its end a sliding pin G12,having a beveled end G13, which engages a beveled notch G14,formed in the concentrically-curved su rface G11 of an arm G19, which projects from a hub G11, capable of turning ou the shaft G9. The hub G11 also has an arm G12, carrying in its free end a cam-roll G19, running in the groove G29 of acam G21, attached to the shaft D4. The slidingpin G12is forced downwardly by a spiral spring G22, having one end held in a recess in the pin and its opposite end acting against the flanged head of a follower G29, which is capable of being forced downwardly by a screw G24 in order to vary the tension of the spring G22. The sliding pin G12 is provided with a slot G25, which is engaged by a pin G29, held in the arm G11, in order to limit the motion of the sliding pin G12, and also with a notch G27, arranged, when the pin is raised, to be engaged by the end of a latch G22, carried on the end of a lever G29, which is pivoted at G29 and actuated by a spring G21, in order to force the latch G29 into engagement with the notch G27 and hold the sliding pin inits raised position. When the beveled end G12 of the sliding pin G12 is in engagement with the beveled notch G11, it forms a yielding clutch connection between the arm G11and the arm G11,causing the oscillating motion of the arm G1, as actuated by the cam G21, to be imparted to the shaft G9and a reciprocating motion to be given to the feeder G2, which is so timed with the movement of the follower D as to carry the piece to be embossed forward when the follower D is in its lowest position. In case undue resistance is offered to the forward movement of the feeder, the beveled end of the sliding piu G12 is thrown out of the notch G14, causing the sliding pin G12 to be raised and held out of engagement with the arm G16 by means of the latch G22, thereby disconnecting the feeder G2 from its actuating-cam. \Vhen it is desired again to connect the feeder with the actuating-cam, the sliding pin G12 is released by moving the lever G29 againstthe tension of the spring G21 and withdrawing the latch G22 from the notch G21in the sliding pin, thereby allowing the pin to be again forced into the beveled notch G14 by the tension of the spring G22. When plates G4 are preferably.

the piece to be embossed has been squeezed between the die E and the under surface of the head C and the follower D depressed, the embossed piece, which still clings to the iigured surface of the die, is released from the die by releasing mechanism which comprises a sliding finger H, slidingin ways H', formed in the shelf G and at an oblique angle to the surface of the die E. The sliding finger l-I is provided at its upper end with a sharp edge H2, adapted to engage the edge of an embossed piece I, lying upon the die E. The finger H is provided with a recess to receive a tooth H3 upon an oscillating segment H4, pivoted at H5 to the shelf G and at H1 to the upper end of a lifter J, which slides in the bracket K, attached to the follower D, and having at the proper period a positive upand-down motion by which the segment H4 is rocked to impart a sliding movement to the finger H. The lifter J is moved in an upward direction by means of a cam J', attached to the periphery of the rotating cam G21 and acting against the lower end of the lifter J, and its downward movement is effected by means of a cam J2, attached to the cam G21 and moving over the pin J3 to draw the lifter down. The lifter J consist-s of two parts, the upper part being pivoted to the segment H4 and the lower part being actuated by the cams J and J2. The upper portion of the lifter consists of the parallel bars J4 J4, united by the transverse 'cross-bar J5, which is attached to the front edges of the bars J4 J4 and also by the blocks J 11 J 7, which are placed between the bars J4 J4. The lower portion of the lifter consists of a bar J2, placed in alinement with the cross-bar J5 and having a projection J9 extending between the parallel bars J4 J4 and normally held in contact with the block JT by a spiral spring .119, bearing against the projection J9 and the block J9. Placed between the bar J2 and cross-bar J5 is a plate J11, held in position against the forward edges of the bars J4 J4 by means of a spiral spring J12, held on a stud J12, projecting from the block J9. The meeting edges J14 of the bar J8 and plate J11 are slightly beveled, Fig. 2, and as the lifter is raised by the upward motion of the bar J2, with its beveled upper edge in contact with the beveled lower edge of the plate J whenever an undue resistance is offered to the rocking motion of the segment H4 the plate J11 is forced outwardly against the tension of the spring J12 by the upper beveled edge of the bar J2, allowing the bar Js to move upwardly while the bars J4 J4 remain at rest and compressing the spring J19. As the finger H moves up it-engages the forward edge of the embossed piece I and lifts it from the die and at the same time imparts a slight forward movement to the embossed piece, so that as the linger H is withdrawn and the embossed piece I allowed to fall the figure embossed thereon will not match the figure on the die, causing the embossed piece to lie loosely upon IOS IIO

the face of the die in position to be delivered from the machine bythe forward i movement of the succeeding piece as it is fed forward 'by the reciprocating motion 'of the feeder G2,

and in order to carry `the embossed 'piece` clear of the machine the shelf L is provided,

projecting over the gearDf,y Y

lIhe upper ends ofthe rods B vB are screwthreaded and carry nuts M, having anges N inclosed in. the head C, so that the-adjustment of the nuts Mwill raise or lower the head C, and the nuts M are provided with sprocket-wheels carrying a chain O, which is; rotated by means of -a sprocket and handv wheel P in order to simultaneously rotate the nuts M.l The adjustment of the head C by' means of the nuts M and chain O is not new ,vand'forms no part of our presentinvention, and therefore we have not deemed it desir' able -to show or describe thegsame in detail.`

The op'eration'of my machine is as followsz The: head C is adjusted relatively to theposition of the die E, so as to vgive thedesired" f compression 'to the piece of wood to be em-` bossed'. A reciprocating motion-is'impartedto thefollower'l), and as-the follower'v reaches its lowest'position the piece of wood is placed upon the shelf G, the adjustable wooden plates Gf1 having been made the proper length to cause `the piece-to be embossedto bev pushed'forward into theproper position by` the reciprocating motion of' the feeder G2."

As the feeder moves backy the action of the 'toggleejoint' levers pushes thefollower Dupwardly-andcomp'resses'the piece inserted be-v tween the head C and die E. The follower thenmoves downwardly, and as soon'as'spaee is provided for lifting the'embossed-piece off Y the d ie the sliding-finger His'pushed'obliquely against the edge ofthe embossed piece Lcausing it to be lifted out of engagement:

with the die E and pushed forward. .The nger H is then withdrawn'to clear the'pat-h forv the succeeding piecel` to be embossed, which is 'fed'forward from the shelf G at the next forward reciprocation of Ythelfeeder G2. As

the succeeding piece is pushed between the die and the head C the piece already embossed is pushed forward by a quick movement, which carries it over the shelf L.-V The only'attention required from the attendant is to place at the proper time a 'new piece upon the shelf G in front of the pusher-plates G4.

It'isnecessary to impart a highV degreeof heat to the die E in order to produce a smoothly-embossed surface and prevent thev checking of the grain of the wood, and it is desirable that the embossed piece be-raised out of contact with the heated die as soon as possiblein orderto preventl discolorization of the wood, and it is al's'o desirable that the mechanismby which the embossed piece is released from the die shall be immediately withdrawn in order to clearthepathfso that the succeeding piece may be automatically fed to the machine placed inaccurate regis-, tration with the diedi.. 'These results are'lse-l cured,by the machinel above described, which allowsthe pieces' to "beyfed rapidly and delivered'from the machine.' v

Whenlthe machine is operated at -'a very high rate of speed-",I employ afriction device in the-head() in order-to retard the forward movement ofthe piece as it is fed bythe reciprocating feeder G2' andV prevent its momentum from carrying it'away from the'for ward ends of thepusher-plates G4. tarding deviceis 'represented in Fig.A 4, in which-the head C is represented with a recess in its under surface-toreceive a friction-plate Q, attached'to a series of spindlesQ,fwhich extend into recesses in` the head C and are forced downwardly by spiral springs Q2. The' friction-plate Q is-arranged" to extend belowV the surface of the head1), andthe forward end 'Q2 is slightly rounded toallow thel piecetobe embossed to pass freely beneath it. f As 4the piece to be embossed is'pushed-forward--it raises thel friction-plate" Q, compressing the spiral springs Q2 and thereby'applyingpressur@ to the upper surface of the piece,O be K embossed andproducing sufficientresistance to overcomeits momentum. f

jThefollowerD is v'provided with a 'removv having a y,liat facerand substituting for'the die-supporting top R of the follower a topv having a fiat instead ofa convex face.

What Iclaim-as my invention, and desireA to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Inan embossing-machine the combina tion ofa pair of pressing members, of a shelf" forfsupp'orting the workinalinement with yIIO said pressing members, a reciprocating feeder moving ina line parallel with said shelf,"a nd a pair-of detachable plates attached to the op. positeY sides of said feederv and overlapping the opposite edges of said'shelf, substantially as described. i

2. Infan' vembossing-machine,thel combina-f tion with a pair of pressing members andv ai reciprocating'feeder of a'drivin'g-shaft, connecting mechanismV betweensaidv shaft and'l saidfeeder, consisting of acam'G21, av rock# a ing'fraine actuated by said camand'comprising the arm G22 and an arm G16 havinga curvedA surface G15 and a notch G14,.a rock-shaft G9, an arm G11 attached to'said rock-shaft, a sliding spring-actuatedy pinq G12 rengaging rsaid notchby which the motion ofithe rocking frameis imparted "to said rockshaft, a latching mecbanisni'lbywhich said sliding kpin vis held out of engagement with said notch, arms Gs attached 'gtovs'aid rock-shaft,`andf links G7 between said arms and said feeder, substantially as described.

3. In an embossing-machine, the combination with a pressing mechanism having a reciprocating member and comprising a pair of pressing-surfaces of a die forming one of said pressing-surfaces, a lifting mechanism arranged to engage the embossed work and move the same in a line obliquely to the face of the die and means for actuating said lifting mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In an embossing-machine the combination With a reciprocating feeder and a pressing mechanism comprising a reciprocating member and an embossing-die forming one of the pressing-surfaces, of means for lifting the Work out of an engagement with the die and moving it out of registration with the die, in advance of the reciprocating movement of the feeder, substantially as described.

5. In a'n embossing-machine, the combination with a pressing mechanism comprising a reciprocating member and an embossing-die forming one of the pressing-surfaees,of means for releasing the embossed piece from the die, and a yielding connection between the releasing mechanism and the driving power, substantially as described.

6. The combination with fixed and reciprocating pressing-surfaces, an embossing-die forming one of said pressing-surfaces, of .a finger sliding in ways obliquel y to the face of said die, a rocking segment by which said finger is moved, an actuating-cam and an intermediate lifter between said cam and segment, whereby said seglnentis rocked to slide said finger above the face of the die and a cam by which the motion of said segment and finger is reversed, substantially as described.

7. In an embossing-machine, the combination with a pressing mechanism, comprising xed and reciprocating members, of a die carried by the reciprocating member and a friction device held in the fixed member,wl1ereby a frictional resistance is im parted to the Work as it is fed to the pressing mechanism, substantially as described.

S. In an embossing-machine, the combination with a pressing mechanism and a feeding mechanism by which the work is fed to said pressing mechanism, of a spring-actuated plate held by the pressing mechanism and in advance ot' the movement of said feeding mechanism, whereby a frictional resistance is imparted to the Work as it is fed to the pressing mechanism, substantially as described. I

9. In an embossing-machine comprising a pressing mechanism having a reciprocating member and a die carried thereby, of a heating apparatus for heating said die, a shelf carried by said reciprocating member, and a fuel-supplying reservoir supported on said shelf, substantially as described.

l0. In an embossing-machine, the combina- 4tion of a supporting-stand, a fixed pressing member held bysaid stand, a movable pressing member moving in vertical ways, a pair of toggle-joint levers by which said movable member is actuated, a shaft jonrnaled between said toggle-joint levers, eccentrics carried by said shaft, intermediate connecting mechanism between said eccentrica and said toggle-joint levers, a gear on said shaft, a pinion engaging said gear, a driving-shaft carrying said pinion and a belt-pulley on said driving-shaft, substantially as described.

ll. The combination with the pressing members, of a pair of toggle-joint levers, a shaft operatively connected with said levers and journaled between them, a cam on one end of said shaft, a feeding mechanism operated by said cam, a gear on the opposite end of said shaft., and means for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 23d dayof August, 1899.

FRANK II. BANCROFT.

lVitnesses:

BERTHA M. ATKINs, ALBERT A. UrToN. 

